By Scott Robarge: Michigan will be hosting Michigan State at 3:30PM Saturday afternoon October 20th at the Big House.

This will be the 105th time the two teams have met with Michigan currently leading the rivalry with 67 wins, 32 losses and 5 ties. The two teams first met in 1898 when Michigan shutout the Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University) 38-0, and they’ve met every year since with the exception of 1943 and 1944 due to World War II. Since 1953 they’ve battled for the Paul Bunyan Trophy, a four-foot-high wooden statue named after the mythical giant lumberjack Paul Bunyan, a reflection of the state’s proud history as a major lumber producing State.

While the matchup is always one of the most highly anticipated games of the year, this year is especially meaningful to Michigan players and fans alike. November 3, 2007 was the last time a Michigan team handed the Spartans a loss. It was also the year Mike Hart made his now famous “little brother”comment, which in turn has been a bit of curse that has coincided with four consecutive years of losses to their in-state rivals. Meaning there isn’t a player on the Michigan roster that has experienced a win against the Spartans, and for some including Denard “Shoelace” Robinson, this will be their last chance to get a win against their instate rival. This year the two will be back in Michigan stadium where we can expect a crowd that easily surpasses the official capacity of109,901. With the two campuses a mere 60 miles apart, Ann Arbor will be a sea of Maize and Blue and Green and White with Sparty showing up in force.

If you plan to make the trip to Ann Arbor and don’t have a ticket, StubHub has them starting at $129. Not the cheapest way to spend your Saturday afternoon, but regardless if you’re a Michigan or Michigan State fan, it‘ll be exciting one. For those of you driving to the game and in need a place to park, you may want to try Park n Party – http://www.parknparty.com/?module=Home. As always, be safe and don’t drink and drive.

Twitter has the advantage of being the most up-to-date news source for pretty much any network or event. Each day approximately a billion individuals/companies/networks tweet every single second of the day from the quality of their coffee in the morning, to interesting articles to important news.

As the popular 2012 Summer Olympics in London get underway, Twitter has become the go to social network for getting scores and stories from London. Given the time differences between the U.S. and London, many Americans are just waking up or working while the main Olympic Games commence. Therefore, for those of us who do not have time to watch cable or even view the games on our computers or mobile devices – Twitter becomes a convenient source for up-to-date information. A simple 140-character tweet followed by a “tiny url” usually says it all and can easily be accessed while running errands or going from conference room to conference room for meetings.

According to the NBC network (which hosts the Olympics), Twitter, is “THE destination for up-to-the-minute results and breaking news.” That said, people can follow the handle, @NBCOlympics to “keep informed with tune-in posts and coming-ups about when events will live-stream on nbcolympics.com as well as on television,” according to NBC.

Many might feel the @NBCOlympics handle may be too broad in scope. After all, some might only want swimming, shooting, tennis or gymnastics scores and nothing else. NBC provides the Twitter handles for several reporters, producers and analysts who are covering specific competitions and the athletes.The list of all the various Twitter handles to follow is too long to mention here, so please head over to this site to follow your favorite sport: http://www.nbcolympics.com/wcnc/news-blogs/2012/nbc-olympics-social-guide-to-the-2012-summer-games.html?cid=rss. In the meantime, below are examples of Twitter handles you can follow as well as what other social networks are doing to showcase the Olympics:

Scott Robarge Merced California is known as the gateway to Yosemite. By travelling the original route along Highway 140, established in 1926, visitors can experience 1,170 miles of nature’s most awe-inspiring scenery in Yosemite National Park. The route from Merced to Yosemite was the very first route bringing travelers from the valley along the Merced River Canyon.

Highlights of any visit to Yosemite National Park include Half Dome, El Capitan, Tuolumne Meadows, Bridalveil and Yosemite Falls. If you love outdoor sports, you must try the amazing rock climbing, river rafting, bicycling, or snowshoeing or skiing in the winter at one of the most majestic destinations in the United States.

Yosemite National Park boasts a rich and colorful history. The Ahwahneechee Indians lived there for centuries. Later European settlers arrived in the mid-1800s. The rugged land made it hard for travelers to complete the arduous journey to Yosemite Valley by horseback or covered wagon. President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill in 1864 bill that granted Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove to the California. The naturalist and preservationist John Muir helped advocate for the creation of Yosemite National Park in 1890. In 1907, construction was completed on the Yosemite Valley Railroad that went from Merced to El Portal and made it possible for tourists to experience the Valley. Today, 3.5 million people enter Yosemite National Park every year to explore the beautiful scenery and picturesque landscape.

National Park Entrance Fees are $20.00 per car or you can purchase an individual pass for $10.00.

June 2, 2012 Louisville, Kentucky: the birthplace of the iconic Louisville Slugger bat. To baseball lovers everywhere, the Louisville Slugger is more than the official bat of Major League Baseball. It’s a window to a rich history of a beloved game. The museum gives visitors a unique view into the sport of baseball from the perspective of the game’s most valuable tool: the Louisville Slugger bat. The museum shows visitors how the sport has evolved over the last 100 plus years, in addition to celebrating the thrill of the game.

The Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory calls Louisville home, and allows visitors the opportunity to learn about the importance of the Louisville Slugger in baseball’s history. Visitors can experience engaging exhibits featuring unique baseball memorabilia, and can tour the factory where the bats are actually made. Visitors can’t miss the museum building; they’re encouraged to keep an eye out for the World’s Biggest Bat casually leaning against the museum building. Visitors also can take advantage of the opportunity of their visit to get their very own personalized Louisville Slugger.

The Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory boasts many unique exhibits. One such exhibit features a bat once used by George “Mule” Suttles, one of the Negro League’s best players. Another exhibit, “Ballparks: From Classic Cathedrals to Concrete Donuts,” juxtaposes the classic baseball photography of Jim Dow with rare artifacts borrowed from The Baseball Hall of Fame.

Over two million people have walked through the halls of the museum and factory since its inception, making it one of the most popular tourist attractions in Louisville. A record number of visitors graced the museum’s halls in 2011, with 238,912 baseball fans gaining a fun, educational and memorable experience.

June 1, 2012 The University of Louisville Cardinals released their 2012 football schedule. The Big East contenders will play seven games in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, their home field.

The season-opener against arch-rival Kentucky on September 1 kicks off what is expected to be a great season. On September 15, the North Carolina Tar Heels come to town. The Cardinals will be looking for redemption following their heartbreaking 14-7 loss to the Tar Heels last season. The Cardinals will open Big East competition on the road on October 13, when the Cardinals face the Pittsburgh Panthers. New Big East competitor, the Temple Owls, will face the Cardinals on November 3. This is the first time these two teams will meet since the 2006 season. The Cardinals will face Rutgers during their regular season closer on November 29.

May 31, 2012 Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Muhammad Ali is a hometown hero whose professional and personal crusades impacted the entire world. The Muhammad Ali Center, located in downtown Louisville, aims to share the history and ideals of Muhammad Ali and inspire every visitor to achieve greatness.

Billing itself as both a cultural attraction and an international education center, the Ali Center’s inspiration stems from Muhammad Ali’s own legacy and the hope that each person will strive for greatness. The Ali Center contains numerous inspiring exhibits, educational and public programming and global initiatives in its three-story building. The hope of the Ali Center is that visitors will have an educational experience within its walls, by learning about the rich history of Ali himself. Additionally, the Ali Center wants to provide each visitor with the inspiration needed to begin their own journey of inner reflection so that they can find and challenge their own values and character.

Muhammad Ali lives his life according to six “Core Values,” all of which are represented within the Ali Center’s walls: Respect, Confidence, Conviction, Dedication, Giving and Spirituality. Each “Core Value” is given its own section of the museum, so visitors can explore their meaning and gain inspiration via media presentations and interactive exhibits. The historical significance of these exhibits shows how a sports legend grew from a dreamer to becoming the best that he could be, and then in turn how his personal growth helped him inspire that same sense in others.

In addition to the “Core Values,” the museum explores other themes such as empowerment, personal discovery, compassion and conflict resolution. The focus of these exhibits is to demonstrate how all individuals are linked, rather than how they are different. The Ali Center bills itself as a “global gathering place” where visitors can experience Ali’s values both online and at the Ali Center.

Saturday May 5, 2012 marked the 138th Kentucky Derby. The “Run for the Roses” is billed as the fastest two-minutes in sports. But the road to the Kentucky Derby takes years of breeding, training and a little luck. We saw a glimpse of that this past Saturday when I’ll Have Another scored a 15-1 upset at Churchill Downs. I’ll Have Another flew past 4-1 favorite Bodemeister for a 1 1/2 lengths victory in front of a record crowd of 165,307. Trained by Doug O’Neil, I’ll Have Another gave jockey Mario Gutierrez his first Kentucky Derby winner finishing 1 1/4 miles on the fast track in 2:01 4/5.

It was a warm 81 degree spring day in Louisville. The fancy hats were out in full force and the Mint Julep kept folks cool and well lubricated. Celebrities were spotted throughout the Churchill Downs track dressed to impress, including Cyndi Lauper, Debra Messing, Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Mary J Blige, Ashton Kutcher and Travis Tritt.

After the call to post and the singing of “My Old Kentucky Home” the starting gun brought the crowd to its feet. Bodemeister held the lead for most of the second half of the race before tiring down the stretch. Union Rags, another early favorite, wasn’t really in contention for most of the race.

I’ll Have Another won the Santa Anita Derby, but the betting action had him the 9th favorite to win. I’ll Have Another was purchased for $35,000 and is owned by Paul Reddam. Most people looked past the horse before Derby day. But not anymore.

It was the first time a horse won from the 19th post position. I’ll Have Another paid $32.60, $13.80 and $9. The $2 exacta with Bodemeister paid $306.60.

All eyes now turn to the Preakness in two weeks to see whether I’ll Have Another has another big win left in him.

The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) announced that the 2013 Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships will be hosted at Squaw Valley in Olympic Valley, California on March 17-23, 2013.

The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association is the national governing body of Olympic skiing and snowboarding and encourages thousands of young skiers and snowboarders to go for the gold. USSA is also the parent organization of the U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing.

The announcement was made during a U.S. Ski Team Day fundraising event at the Squaw Valley resort on April 7th. Olympic gold medalist Julia Mancuso, World Cup winner Marco Sullivan and U.S. Champion Travis Ganong were in Squaw Valley for the announcement. Squaw Valley hosted the 1960 Olympic Winter Games and hosted the U.S. Championships back in 2002.

The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association could not have chosen a more perfect location for the 2013 Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships.

Squaw Valley is known throughout the world for its 3,600 skiable acres that range in difficulty from a beginners area to steeps, trees and bowls designed for experts.

The Village at Squaw Valley has dozens of fantastic dining options, bars, boutiques and art galleries that are great for families looking for a perfect vacation on and off the slopes. There are so many great things to do in and around Squaw Valley, anytime of year.

The Winter Olympics are what I really look forward to, but I have to admit I am very excited to watch the upcoming 2012 Summer Olympics.

For American sports fans this has been a tough week. A heartbreaking goal in the 68th minute last week by El Salvador eliminated the United States from Olympic qualifying with a 3-3 tie. Sadly, this was the second time the United States failed to qualify for the Olympics since 1976.

However, there is still a lot to be excited about!

This past week, the London 2012 Organizing Committee (LOCOG) named over 7,300 people who will carry the Olympic Flame as torchbearers as part of the majestic London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay that will take place later this year.

Starting on May 19, 2012, approximately 115 Torchbearers a day will hold the Olympic Flame during its nearly 8,000-mile journey around the United Kingdom until it arrives at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 for the lighting of the cauldron to signify the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games as part of the Opening Ceremony that will be broadcast all over the world.

If I’m lucky there’ll be a seat in the audience with the name Scott Robarge on it, but I’m not holding my breath.

The street locations marking the roads along which the Torchbearers will carry the Olympic Flame is available online and fans can follow the Torchbearers street-by-street through more than 1,000 villages, towns and cities in the United Kingdom.

As some of you may already know, Scott Robarge dot org is the destination for thoughts, stories and news about outdoor sports and other activities. I look forward to sharing more with you over the coming weeks and months.